Juneau – Today, the Alaska House of Representatives created the first ever House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs. Creation of such a committee has long been a goal of Representative Bryce Edgmon (I-Dillingham), Alaska’s first Alaska Native Speaker of the House.

Juneau – The 25 members of the Alaska House Majority have announced their leadership team and committee membership for the 31st Alaska State Legislature. Representative Bryce Edgmon (I-Dillingham) will lead the Alaska House Majority after being chosen to serve a second term as Speaker of the House.

Juneau – State Representatives with the Alaska House Coalition will hold a press availability Tuesday night following the annual State of the State Address from Governor Michael J. Dunleavy. Participants will include Rep. Bryce Edgmon (D-Dillingham), Rep. Chris Tuck (D-Anchorage), Rep. Neal Foster (D-Nome), and Rep. Louise Stutes (R-Kodiak).

Fairbanks – Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed a bill into law this evening allowing utilities in Alaska to create low-interest financing programs to help customers make energy efficiency improvement to their homes and businesses. House Bill 374, sponsored by Representative Adam Wool (D-Fairbanks), allows utilities to offer low-interest loans to customers with payments added to existing utility bills.

Anchorage – Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed legislation today that includes measures to protect the growing hospitality industry in Alaska. Senate Bill 45 includes a provision to allow Alaska’s historic roadhouses to continue operating as they have for decades. The provision was originally included in a bill sponsored by Representative Adam Wool (D-Fairbanks) that passed the Alaska House of Representatives but didn’t pass the Alaska State Senate. In the closing hours of the legislative session, the language to protect Alaska’s historic roadhouses was amended into SB 45, a bill that deals with contractors and home builders

Anchorage – Today, 21 members of the Alaska State Legislature sent a letter to President Donald Trump thanking him for responding to the wishes of the American people by pledging to end the practice of separating children from families that illegally cross the southern border of the United States. The President has confirmed that he will use his executive order authority to stop the practice, which his administration implemented earlier this year. The lead author of the letter is long-time State Representative David Guttenberg (D-Fairbanks) who notes that the policy was an inappropriate and ineffective use of government resources and taxpayer dollars.

Anchorage – Alaska State Representatives Scott Kawasaki (D-Fairbanks) and Adam Wool (D-Fairbanks) have released the following statements in response to Tuesday’s announcement that the developer of the Fort Knox gold mine near Fairbanks will proceed with a mine expansion onto adjacent land owned by the State of Alaska. The Kinross Gold Corporation reports that the proposed expansion will produce 1.5 gold equivalent ounces and extend the life of the Fort Knox Mine to 2030.